HOW TO CREATE A MORE OPEN-LISTENING CLIMATE IN EARLY YEARS SETTINGS: A Multi-Professional Perspective When Supporting Children’s Wellbeing

This chapter draws on findings from an empirical doctoral thesis exploring the concept of how an open-listening climate in early years settings can facilitate child voice. Being a previously under-researched area, this study explored parents’ and practitioners’ perspectives of child voice in the context of providing multi-professional support to children and their parents. The study was carried out in two Children’s Centres in a large city in the West Midlands, England. The main driver of the study was a commitment to make a change to the lived experience of children and their parents that would make a lasting impact on children’s wellbeing. Reflecting in and reflecting on practice was facilitated by applying a praxeological approach to the research, stimulating professional dialogue to influence a change in practice and policy.